Local icon Stahl warmly recalled

kingston >> Legendary track and cross country coach Bernie Stahl, hailed as an icon of the local running community, died Wednesday at his home in Olivebridge at the age of 86.

Stahl, Joe Keller and Barry Hopkins, both of whom predeceased him, and Dick Vincent, were all part of the original group that founded the Onteora Runners Club in the 1970’s.

Stahl was a longtime teacher and coach at Onteora High, and was a mentor and friend to many local runners and athletes.

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He graduated from Kingston High, Hartwick College and St. Bonaventure University.

Stahl began teaching at Onteora in 1952, a member of the school’s original faculty, and retired in 1984.

He coached track for 20 years, cross country for 31 and was honored in 1990 when the school district dedicated the track complex in his name.

Stahl also spent decades editing the club’s newsletter.

He was a regular fixture at track meets, cross country races and local road races right up to the past year or so.

Vincent fondly reminisced about those early days in the club as Stahl managed the personalities involved.

“Bernie was definitely the voice of reason,” Vincent said. “I first met him in 1974 when he helped me with a half-marathon in Catskill.

“Bernie spearheaded and made sure the event was a success.”

Vincent also remembered two specific incidents with Stahl.

“He helped me to organize a special Olympics track event at Catskill High,” he said. “It was the first event of its kind put on by a business (Dick’s Sports and Company) and club (Onteora Runners) not affiliated with Special Olympics.”

Vincent said he would also never forget Stahl’s comments after taking part in the Escarpment Trail Run.

“Bernie got to the top of Blackhead Mountain and with a sarcastic grin of exhaustion proclaimed, ‘I will never come here again’ and he kept his word,” Vincent said.

“I am very sorry that he is gone, but we would all like to have had a life like Bernie’s with the love of his family, friends and community. He gave so much of himself to others.”

Ed Synan, who coached track and field at John A. Coleman Catholic and Marlboro in the late 70’s against the longtime Indians coach shared his memories.

“He was a fine gentleman and a great coach,” Synan said. “He was not only interested in the Onteora athletes, but all athletes. He always had great teams at Onteora and one of the things I learned from him and Joe (Keller) was that in the end, winning and losing were not that important The kids should always come first.”

Lisa Glick, the current ORC president, said that although she didn’t know Stahl personally, she made his acquaintance and admired his dedication to runners.

“I know he coached and was a mentor to a lot of people,” Glick said. “I remember he always had a huge smile and no one every had a bad word to say about him. He touched a lot of people in his life with his kindness and that’s a great legacy to leave behind.”

The club honored Stahl in 2012 by renaming the annual Onteora Mile in his name and Stahl, who was a regular spectator at track meets held at Dietz Stadium, was on hand to graciously accept the honor.

“The runners club has come a long way in 40 years,” Stahl said at the ceremony held at the race. “My wife and I put out the newsletter for 30 years, using a manual typewriter and a mimeograph machine.”

Stahl joked that many in the crowd probably didn’t know what a manual typewriter looked like, and that one time, the daughter of a club member picked on him kiddingly for all of the typographical errors.

“She said to me that she knew I was a teacher and hoped I wasn’t a typing teacher,” Stahl said. “I told her that I was.”

Stahl said he always felt at home among runners and hoped that day “to continue being here for a few more years.”

Al Schultz, the director of the Onteora Mile, said he was happy that the club was able to celebrate Stahl with the race-naming.

“We really wanted to do something nice for him and I’m glad he was there to see it,” Schultz said. “He was the most honest, forthright, sincere person I ever met. It was great to see him smile that day.”

Doug Freese had the unenviable task of taking over the editing and distribution of the newsletter when Stahl decided to call it quits.

“Bernie loved to do the newsletter because it was something he and his wife did together,” Freese said. “When she passed, he started getting tired and I offered to help him and eventually took it over. He was a lovable guy with a heart of gold. He was all about running and did so much over the years for the club.”

Club member Jack Spyker-Oles shared a memory that Stahl confided to him a few year ago.

“Bernie told me that he had stopped running some years ago,” Spyker-Oles said. “But, he still walked the roads in his neighborhood. He told me that whenever he heard a car approach, he would start running because he knew that his neighbors still thought he was running. It was a lovely, funny memory of Bernie, made even funnier because my wife and I have done the same thing.”

Friends will be received from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at Lasher Funeral Home Inc. in Woodstock and the funeral service will be held at 10 a.m. on Saturday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, the family is requesting that donations be made to the Onteora Runners Club, 60 Lamb Ave., Saugerties, N.Y. 12477.